I remember when I wrote about my 4 point something Uber rating and was slammed for it not being that high. Apparently, I’m not the perfect model passenger. Today, I was able to find out how many times Uber drivers have slammed me. I’ve received 13 1-Star ratings for 621 trips. I don’t care what my rating is because I know I’m generally polite and considerate. Even with those negative dings, I’m still at 4.71. Will that be enough to get me into heaven?
Ribera del Duero Travel Guide is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.
The tally of Priority Pass Lounges visits continues to grow. The latest is the Plaza Mayor Lounge in Madrid. We left Ribera del Duero in the middle of the night and arrived at Madrid airport as the sun was rising. After three days of over consumption, the most I could stomach was a few pictures of the food and alcohol display. Due to Covid, it was not self-service.
Fortunately, access to water did not require human interaction.
Overall
Always great to have a Priority Pass Lounge where I can sit and reboot before the next leg.
Ribera del Duero Travel Guide is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.
TPOL’s Guns & Butter Travel Guide is the best way to see as much as you can in as little time as possible. Here’s how it works – A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy. The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa. The guide includes inefficient activities i.e., tourist traps that should be avoided and aspirational activities that are worth doing but may be impossible to see given the constraints of time and resources.
I have already written the Guns & Butter: Madrid Travel Guide. Though it is only two hours away from Madrid, Ribera del Duero deserves its own post and enough time to see and drink it all.
Rental vs. Bus
Before arriving in Madrid, I asked those who had visited the Ribera region if I should rent a car or use public transport. I was told to take the train and rent a car from there. My research told me otherwise. From what I read, there was no train near where I was going and there was no place to rent a car from there. I called one of the hotels in the area and was told that renting a car would be the best option.
For $100 for 3 days, I rented this beauty. For $20 I could have taken the bus to del Duero. From there, I would have had to take an expensive taxi to go to Penafiel, located miles away. Add in the convenience of being able to explore the surrounding areas and leave early enough to catch my flight to Copenhagen, and I say that renting a car is the way to go.
The Gimmicky Castle Hotel
I did it for the blog. That’s the way I rationalized paying $100/night to stay at Hotel Castillo de Curiel. Located in the small town of Valladolid, it’s a short drive to Peñafiel, the town where I spent most of my time.
TPOL’s TIP: Novelty aside, it’s not because the Wi-Fi is from the Middle Ages that you shouldn’t stay here, but rather it’s the hassle of driving.
Wine Tasting: Day 1: The Pop In
In Mendoza, Argentina and Blenheim, New Zealand, no reservations were required. We peddled from one vineyard to another (see Wine Tours by Bike NZ: A Must for Wine Enthusiasts). In Santiago, Chile, they were a bit confused that we showed up with a reservation but were nevertheless accommodating. In Ribera del Duero, the pop-in is not the norm. Our first stop was Boedegas Comenge, right across from the castle. We were able to sample one glass, and then we were sent on our way.
The second stop was Emilio. This was more like a store than a wine tasting stop. 
After being denied entry to the third vineyard due to the pandemic, we went back to the castle to regroup for day 2.
TPOL’s Tip: Don’t go to the region on a Monday. Virtually everything is closed.
Peñafiel
Peñafiel is a small, but beautiful town to explore.
Hotel Convento las Claras
Walking distance to the most famous vineyard in Peñafiel, Protos, and walking distance to bars, restaurants, and shops is Hotel Conventos las Claras. For $100 a night, it was a quality hotel.
Wine Tasting: Day 2: The Wine Zone
The reception at the convent hotel told us that most vineyards were closed due to the pandemic and those that were open operated by appointment only. She also said that Protos, the most famous vineyard, required a one-hour tour and that tasting was limited to two glasses. Appointments and tours are not my idea of a good wine time. Nevertheless, for the blog, I booked it for day 3.
For day 2, she recommended a wine store, Vinoteca y Artesanía Zaguán, in Plaza España and Anagora Wine Zone, a tasting room to sample wines and eat tapas.
I stopped by Zaguán and was greeted by an overzealous shopkeeper. She interrogated me in Spanish at 100mph. “What are you looking for? White wine? Red wine? Crianza? Reserva?” Unable to enter the store to browse, I said Reserva. And on she went from there to show and describe in Spanish each wine she had. Understanding some of what she was saying, I decided to go with the San Cristobal for $50.
Bottle in hand, I made my way to Anagora. There, the shopkeeper was much more peaceful. I scanned the menu and decided to start with the best wine they offered, Vega Sicilia’s famous Unico. 30 euros for 60ml is not the worst deal considering the bottle goes for 425 euros.
I moved on to Vega Sicilia’s ‘lower end’ wine called Pintia. That one was certainly not Unico.
I jumped up to Alion. For 11 euros a glass, it was my favorite. After two glasses, I decided to taste the cheapest wine on the list. Appropriately it was called Vina Desgracia. The name does not give it the respect it deserves. It was quite good.
The bill for this afternoon of splurge was $125. It included meats and cheeses.
Wine Tasting: Day 3: Protos, the Never-ending Tour.
To make this a legitimate wine tasting trip, I forced myself to go on a two hour wine tour. All of it was in Spanish which made it easier to tune out. We descended from one room to another, and all the while I kept checking my watch to see if I had put in the time to get to the tasting. I was impressed with the giant operation and how this company has been around since 1927. However, like temples in Thailand – seen one, seen them all. 
The tasting was actually disappointing as they only served one white and the standard red which is poured at every bar all over town.
Looking to experience the breadth and depth of Protos, I made my first critical mistake of the trip (see Punxsutawney TPOL: Travel Lessons). I bought two bottles of Gran Reserva. I stupidly did not think of what I would do with the bottles since I had many stops left on my trip and I didn’t have a checked baggage allowance.
Bars
Sometimes, I want to drink wine without the details of how it was made. The go-to spot for this was Metro. A glass of Protos was 2 euros. It includes daily tapas like green olives.
Another place was Asa dos Alonso. Nothing like getting hammered mid-afternoon and watching Spanish Wheel of Fortune.
Food
Surprisingly, food was an issue. I assume it was because of Covid, but we could not find restaurants open post siesta time. The one we did find, Chicopa, was fantastic on the first night.
The second night we tried to go elsewhere, but this was the only option. Unfortunately, the aforementioned San Crisotbal was not enjoyed with a juicy steak. We settled for a disappointing pizza.
The third night’s food consisted of meats and cheeses since, once again, no restaurant was open. I opened the Protos Gran Reserva and can say that I prefer the standard red.
Starving, we ended up at the best food spot in town – doner kebab. The messier the kebab, the better.
Next Time
Since there are so many wine regions throughout the world, I doubt I will return to Ribera del Duero. If I do, I assume the wine tasting, restaurants, and bars will be more lively.
Overall
Ribera del Duero, specifically Peñafiel was a great experience. Covid put a damper on the food options available and is probably why the place was a ghost town.
Call me an instigator but I can’t help myself when I see something ridiculous (Blog Roast OMAAT: Starting Posts with Ouch, Wow, Uh Oh, Wild, Major, Whoa). Like a vigilant subway rider, I have to say something. Today’s ire is directed at fellow BA blogger OMAAT and his new website enhancement. Commenters can earn status based on the number of times they post on his site and the community’s reaction to the usefulness of said comments. Per his post, there are five tiers:
OMAAT’s cultish nerds may love this idea and perhaps he is correct that it will create a more substantive comment section but where will the trolls go to spew their vitriol? Introducing TPOL’s Black & Blue Status. Commenters will be awarded for beating me up in the comments section. The rudest most disrespectful comments will receive the highest number of points. At the end of the year, the individual who delivers the knockout blow will receive the grand prize – a special shout out in my annual Festivus Airing of Points Grievances. For inspiration, here are a few comments directed at me personally:
Can you do better? Take your best shot to earn Black & Blue Status.
You know what grinds my gears? People who do not know how to use the word ‘literally’. Here’s an example of how to use it correctly: TPOL is literally under construction. Today the first cast was removed and the second one was placed. I will be unable to walk for another 4 weeks. Plans of going to Trinidad for Carnival are canceled (see Recap: Trinidad Carnival (Good), Injured (Bad), 737-Max (Worse), Home (Safe)). Simultaneously, my house is also under construction. Because of these interruptions, I will be away from my laptop and plan on returning next week.
I’ve decided to become a pilot for Pan American Airways… the most trusted name in the skies. They’ve accepted me into their training program and told me that if I work hard I should earn my wings real soon.
My Abagnale aspirations, minus prison, is one step closer. Today the Bachuwa Law operations are moving from 2 Park Avenue to 200 Park Avenue. For those who do not know the address, it is the current MetLife Building. For those that do, it’s the previous Pan Am Building. In the words of another con, “Only in America.”
Iberia ORD MAD Business Class Flight Review is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.
“Where’s the champagne?” Thanks to Covid there was no pre-flight celebration (see Get Ready to Takeoff: The World’s Best Champagne). My first time flying a long-haul flight since my return from Shanghai in 2019 (see EVA Air Flight Review TPE-JFK: The Best Business Class) was off to an unremarkable start.
Amenities Kit
The amenities kit had a sanitizing wipe. Where’s the hot towel?
Service
Soon after takeoff, the food service began. It wasn’t like the old days where meat and cheese are offered with a glass of fine wine. Instead, it felt like peasant class (see Points in the Front, Peasants in the Back). “Chicken, fish, or vegetarian?” I asked for the chicken and was told that it was the last one. I double-checked my seat to make sure I was indeed flying business.
Wine
Good wine solves everything. My choices were Rioja tempranillo or Ribera del Duero blend. Since I was flying to Madrid to visit Ribera del Duero (see Guns & Butter: Ribera Del Duero, Madrid Travel Guide (Vino Edition)), home to tempranillo, I went with the second option.
Food
Despite the rushed service, the food was better than I remembered (see Iberia MAD-SJU Business: Great to Fly Direct). I especially enjoyed the pretzel bread.
Lost in Translation
A quality flight is as much about the hard product as it is about the soft. I typically become well acquainted with the flight attendants and receive extra perks as a result (see Emirates Shower Class JFK-DXB: One More Time & Be Our Guest: Etihad First Class 777 Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles). This flight was no different. The flight attendant promptly came to offer me more pretzel bread and more wine. There was never a shortage of either. At one point, the Spanish flight attendant came by and said in English, “What a shame it is that your wine is empty.” Attempting to be equally clever, I responded in Spanish, “Tengo que beber más porque no quiero llevar la mascarilla” (I don’t want to drink more but I do not want to wear a mask). His facial expression went from carefree to stone cold. He abruptly left, returned with another glass, set it down in silence, and then walked away.
Later on, my glass was empty and I signaled in his direction asking for more wine. In English, he sternly said, “We have concluded our beverage service.” Since dinner was over and in light of Covid, I thought that perhaps alcohol was only served during meals. This hypothesis was proven wrong when moments later another passenger ordered a Jack & Coke.
The “I shot the clerk!” famous movie line popped into my mind when I realized what was going on. I turned to Ms. TPOL and told her that he must have thought that I was being serious in my refusal to wear a mask. Not trying to get kicked off the flight, I thought it wise to stay put and stay quiet for the time being.
On the way back from the bathroom with my mask on, I encountered the flight attendant. I told him (in English) that there must have been a miscommunication. I explained that I was joking about the mask comment and that my sarcasm was lost in translation. That same carefree demeanor returned to his face. He explained to me that he had already told the captain that there may be a mask agitator on board but now that he spoke to me, he understood that I was not intoxicated and that I was not trying to cause trouble. We then discussed how I was going to Ribera Del Duero for wine tasting and where to go while I was there. The conversation concluded with him telling me to go back to my seat and await my refill.
Gift
After that international incident, I decided that that last glass of wine would be my final [in life]. The flight attendant had other ideas. He came by and apologized for what had transpired. I reiterated my apologies. He then presented me with a full bottle to be enjoyed at a later time while recounting this story.
Espresso
After the incident, everything was groovy. Seeing that I did not touch my coffee, the flight attendant asked if I didn’t like the coffee and if I would like an espresso instead.
It was far better.
Seat
34,000 Avios points to lie-flat is a great deal. Need I say more? (see Iberia Business Booked for 25k Avios! Best Deal Ever?).
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi on planes has come a long way. I was, with some interruption, able to stream the Bucs vs. Patriots game before going to sleep.
Breakfast
With an offer left before arriving, I woke up for breakfast. Again, it’s better than I remember.
Overall
TPOL may fancy himself a polyglot (see TPOL The Polyglot: A Better Way to Learn Multiple Languages), but my days of telling jokes in foreign languages are over.
Chicago Travel Guide is part of the Round The Atlantic Trip Report. It was originally published on 6/30/2020. It has been updated since my trip Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report in October 2021.
TPOL’s Guns & Butter Travel Guide is the best way to see as much as you can in as little time as possible. Here’s how it works – A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy. The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa. The guide includes inefficient activities i.e., tourist traps that should be avoided and aspirational activities that are worth doing but may be impossible to see given the constraints of time and resources.
“Chicago! Chicago!” Not my favorite Sinatra song, but it is a city worth singing about. Here’s what I did in Chicago. As usual, the Travel Guide is a good start but far from comprehensive.
Arrive in Style
Iberia has consistent availability from Madrid to Chicago (see Iberia Business Madrid Chicago: Solid Sweetness).
Stay
From the best hotel to questionable service the second time around, the Waldorf Astoria is worth a look. 
The Tremont is no longer a Marriott but benefits from its location and affordable nightly rate.
Another option is the Radisson Blu Aqua.
A central option is the Hyatt Regency (see Hyatt Regency Chicago: Bedtime).
If you have an early flight out of O’Hare stay at the Hyatt Regency (see Hyatt Regency O’Hare: The Best Airport Hotel).
Sports
Chicago is a great sports town. I’m not a baseball fan but I enjoyed going to U.S. Cellular for Memorial Day. Catch any game from any sport.
Food
New Orleans is the best city in the US for food (see Guns & Butter: New Orleans Travel Guide (Binge Edition)). Chicago is also a premier food destination.
Be sure to have a few hot dogs (see Chicago Style: Hot Dogs! Hot Dogs! Beer Anyone?).
The reason to go to Chicago is for the pizza. I’ve evaluated plenty of locations and stand by my original assessment that Lou Malnati’s is the best (see The World’s Best Pizza: Chicago Deep Dish Edition). 
2021 TPOL Update: Lou’s wasn’t as good this time (see Post Lockdown Dream Fulfilled? Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago).
Others may recommend Giordano’s, but it’s not for me (see Giordano’s Pizza Chicago: Trust Your Taste Buds, Not Your Friends). 
For all my pho lovers, Chicago is one of the best places in the world for pho. It has an entire street just for pho sampling (see Pho Paradise Found: Asia on Argyle, Chicago). 
Drinks
Traveling means drinking. If you’ve been Scottsdale you’ll recognize two bars: El Hefe and Bottled Blond (see Scottsdale To Chicago, El Hefe Sunday Funday). I preferred the Chicago Bottled Blond location to my former home course.
Billy Goat
I don’t know if it’s world-famous or a tourist trap, but I enjoyed stopping at Billy Goat.
Tourism Must Do
Tourism You Can Skip After Your First Time
Always Skip
Chicago in the winter. It doesn’t look like this:
Overall
I love Chicago in the summer and will go back for more baseball, hot dogs, pizza, beer, and pho.
Chicago Travel Guide is part of the Round The Atlantic Trip Report.
Admirals Club Chicago O’Hare Review is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report, where TPOL leaves the basement and outflanks COVID, at least for now.
Remember lounge fun in Chicago (see Delta Sky Club Chicago: Hot Dog! A Great Bloody Mary)? It’s gone. Now, the lounge is like grade school. Single file! Masks on!
Having missed breakfast after a long night out for NYE (see Happy New Year! TPOL’s NYC NYE Party Guide), I was naively hopeful that the Admirals Club would have adequate food and not the typical offering of hummus and carrots found in all domestic lounges.
I was wrong, partially.
Thanks to everyone’s favorite credit issuer, Citi, I had a guacamole salad that was sort of freshly prepared.
I also had falafel and tzatziki. Falafel, despite the simplicity of ingredients, is one of the hardest foods to make. For a lounge, it was good enough. Like falafel, tzatziki is also surprisingly difficult to make well. For a lounge or a restaurant, I was impressed.
Seating
And now for the worst part of lounge reviews – pictures of seating. There are plenty of places to sit. The amount of seating correlates with the number of weird looks I received for taking photos of the seats.
Bar
The bar was not impressive as next to nothing is included. Looking for free beer? I hope you enjoy Miller Lite. They serve it at both bars.
Coke Zero
Since the selection was poor and since I was in no mood to drink, I thought I would treat myself to a refreshing Coke Zero. Who knew there were so many flavors? The machine almost timed out while I made my selection.
Views
I don’t receive weird looks when I take photos of planes coming and going.
Overall
This lounge was better than average.
It’s January. The birds are chirping. Covid is no longer in the air. Life is back to normal. That may not be the consensus from the world, but that’s how I see it, even with a ruptured Achilles (see TPOL Is Down). Here are the best posts from January:
